Flush tank drip pan



Sept. `14, 1948. H. BODN FLUSH TANK DRIP PAN Filed Aug. 18, 1944 mvemon HERMAN BQDAN' 'sur L ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1948 l UNITED SATss The primary object of my invention is to provide a simple, effective and durable drip-pan for toilet' bowl flush tanks; to trap water resulting frorncondensation caused through differential temperatures between the watersupply and surrounding atmospheric conditions,l the pan being readily 'applied to standard flush tanks. In actual practice two types of toilet bowl equipment are now in general use, one of which is usually attached to the wall, and the other more modern type of tank is directly mounted upon and secured to an apron projecting rearwardly of the toilet bowl forming a part of it.

Specific objects of my invention are:

To provide a iianged rim drip-pan attachable to the bottom of the tank by means projecting from the tank bottom in conjunction with an upset area whereby a small Ventilating air space is developed between the bottom of the tank and pan.

To provide a space between the tank walls and a pan rim flange to insure trapping all condensation dripping from the walls in conjunction with a drain gutter depressed in the pan bottom and vertically positioned directly under and aligned with the tank walls, to serve as a direct water drain which is connected to a drain pipe leading to the bowl. it being understood, in some instances, the gutter may be slightly inclined to a focus point connected with said drain pipe to insure complete drainage.

To provide inwardly extended spring tongues from the pan flanged rim of the pan. engageable with the tank side walls to insure correct position of the pan relative to the walls oi' said iiush tank.

To provide a ductile adjustable drain pipe for the gutter whereby it may readily be directed to a point of discharge into the toilet bowl.

With the above and other minor objects in View. the invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter ful-ly set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed. In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of a drin-pan embodying the features oi my invention, the same being shown attached to a fragmentary flush tank. the section being indicated by line l--I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 a plan View of the same partly in section as indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 a cross section of the tank and drippan upon a plan indicated by line 3--3 of Figure 1. And

2 Figure 4 a similar cross sectional viewvindicated upon line 4`4 of Figure 1.

Referring by characters to thedrawings, A indicates a standard rectangular flush tank haying a water intake pipe B and a centrally disposed,waterdischargebowl flush pipe C 'depending from its bottom.

The flush tank illustrated is of that type directly attached to the bathroom wall rearwardly of the toliet bowl.

The other type of tank (not shown) is directly attached to an apron extending rearwardly of the bowl and forms part of the same. Hence, my drip-pan provides for attaching either type of tank and bowl;A When the back wall of a tank is directly against the wall, the rear edge of the pan directly abuts the tank wall, it being understood, in such conditions, the said tank wall is more or less insulated and unexposed to atmospheric conditions developing moisture.

As best illustrated in Figure i of the drawings, the bottom I of the tank has extended therefrom attaching bolts D-D, which bolts pass through apertures in a centrally positioned upset area 2 of the otherwise ilat bottom surface of said pan.

A water discharge pipe C also passes through an aperture in the raised or upset area 2, it being understood that both the retaining bolts and discharge pipe C extend from the bottom of said tank A. The bolts D and pipe C are provided with packing washers and nuts d and c respectively for watertight securement to the bottom. of the tank.

The intake water pipe B also enters the tank A through an apertured bottom upset 2 about said pipe and is likewise provided with a retaining washer and confining nut c', as indicated especially in Figurel of the drawings.

The drip-pan bottom is formed with a upturned rim flange 3 and extending inwardly from its edge are spaced spring tongues 3' which engage the walls of the tank and serve to hold the edge rim 3 thereof in proper upset spaced relation with said tank walls.

The bottom of the pan is formed with a downwardly depressed endless gutter 4, which gutter is vertically aligned with the side walls of the tank, and said gutter is interrupted by a transversely disposed pocket 4'. The pocket, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, has mounted therein a small drain pipe 5, the nozzle 5 of which is adapted to discharge into a toilet bowl (not shown), it being understood that the pipe may be directed to the bowl between the top of the same and the seat, all of which, forming no part of my invention, is not illustrated. It is further understood that in some instances a bowl may be molded with a suitable drainage aperture communicating by pipe with the drip-pan.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the pan bottom is slightly spaced below the bottom of the tank and the anges are also spaced from the side walls of the same, whereby a current of airis permitted to circulate between the walls and bottom of the tank and pan to insure ventilation as a means of effectually taking care of the condensation, it being borne in mind that a drip-pan of this general character has been successfully used in connection with the standard toilet equipment.

While I have shown and described one form of my invention specically as to detail, it is pipe joints, retaining nuts in threaded union with the pipes for clamping the upset pad areas of the drip-pan against the bottom of the tank, an upturned flange extending from the bottom edge of the drip-pan, spaced from the ilush tank walls, a drain gutter extending about the drippan edge anges below the pan bottom, and a fluid collecting pocket formed in the drip-pan bottom at a lower level than the pan gutter and communicating with the same for drainage, whereby condensation traveling about the gutter will be collected in said p-ocket for discharge into the bowl.

HERMAN BODAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ie of this patent:

UNITED STATESy PATENTS Number Name Date l 849,708 Willms Apr. 9, 1907 Y 864,556 Reiter Aug. 27, 1907 940,952 Bailey Nov. 23, 1909 1,354,199 Ketterngham- Sept. 28, 1920 2,180,902 Herodes et al Nov. 21, 1939 

